A Family Tradition

By Soledad Kennedy

My daughter Jessica Jean Kennedy graduated from Marine Corps boot camp on January 18, 2013. She carries with her a proud military heritage and love of country.

4003ClassPic

I am a Marine  and President of Women Marines Association Central Coast  CA-11. I am one of the Toys for Tots coordinators for Marine Corps League 1340.

I serviced from August 1977 to present I am on the waiting list pending retirement December 2016. Her dad Rod Kennedy is retired from the Navy.

I take great pride to know she will carry on in the central coast after I retire and join me in CA-11’s quest for women Marines, recruiting for the chapter.

Molly Marine Award
Molly Marine Award

I have a few pictures after each award she received. She is in the Parris Island face-book as well as the Marine Corps Association and MCRD Parris Island news.The local Recruiter GySgt Perri was flown out for her ceremony.

Private First Class Jessica J. Kennedy, completed 13 weeks of intense physical and mental training and concluded with the challenging crucible course.

She is an “Honor Graduate”, a “Chesty Puller” award recipient and voted among her recruit peers to receive the “Molly Marine” award on January 16, 2013.

Commanding Officer Brigadier General Loretta E. Reynolds and PFC Kennedy

Three awards out of four is not a bad way to start off her Marine Corps career.

The base Commanding Officer Brigadier General Loretta E. Reynolds presented PFC Kennedy with a challenge coin in recognition for her accomplishments while in recruit training. She had a recorded interviewed during the end of the ceremony with a tv crew.

PFC Kennedy is a 2006 graduate of Cabrillo High School from Lompoc, California and she is back as a Recruiters Aide “RA” until the end of January. She reports to her Military Combat Training “MCT” the first week in February and then off to MOS school in March.

She has only just begun her adventure in 2013 and we shall see what the future holds.

Chesty Puller Award
Marine Pride
PFC J. J. Kennedy
PFC J. J. Kennedy

As you can see from the picture below PFC Kennedy did very well in MCT.

Honor Grad
Honor Grad

Ooooorah

Semper Fidelis

Soledad Kenendy

President WMA CA-11
1stSgt (Res IRR)